The Rising Coaches Podcast

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re back with Mike Dunlap for part two of our conversation. His career has taken him through programs like Loyola Marymount, USC, Arizona, Oregon, St. John’s, the Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks, and Charlotte Bobcats, with head coaching experience across college, international basketball, and the NBA. In this episode we discuss one thing he believes today’s coaches should avoid, the biggest misconception about coaching in the NBA, and the lessons being fired as an NBA head coach taught him moving forward.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Mike Dunlap for part one of a two-part conversation. Dunlap’s career includes stops at Loyola Marymount, Iowa, USC, Arizona, Oregon, St. John’s, the Denver Nuggets, and Milwaukee Bucks, along with head coaching roles at Cal Lutheran, Adelaide, Metro State, the Charlotte Bobcats, Loyola Marymount, and Colorado Mesa. In this episode we discuss how his definition of great coaching has evolved, the skills that took him from young assistant to NBA head coach, and what he would change if given another opportunity to lead a team in today's era.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Patrick Corrigan, Associate Head Coach at the University of West Florida. Corrigan played at Hampden-Sydney before building his coaching career through stops at Charlotte, Ferrum, West Coast Elite, Windward School, Cal Poly Pomona, and West Florida, including a successful run as the head coach at Ferrum. In this episode we discuss why sometimes moving down a level can actually move your coaching career forward, how being a former head coach has changed the way he approaches the assistant’s chair, and what he saw in Tanner Smith and West Florida that made him willing to step away from a successful head coaching position for a new opportunity.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by James Pristouris, Founder of the Super League Athletic Academy and Director of Strategic Relations with EEP Law. James has helped grow Super League from a youth program of just 25 kids into an organization providing international basketball experiences. In this episode we discuss the challenges and lessons behind scaling a small youth program into an international organization, what American player development can learn from the European model, and the impact a basketball trip to Greece can have on both players and programs.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by David Harris, Associate Head Coach at Northern Kentucky University. Harris played at Ashland University before beginning his coaching career through roles at Florida, VCU, Texas, Navy, and Northern Kentucky. In this episode we discuss the coaching DNA he picked up from Billy Donovan, Shaka Smart, Ed DeChellis, and Darrin Horn, how starting in video gave him a unique lens for teaching and developing players, and the behind-the-scenes lessons he’s learning now that are preparing him for his own head coaching opportunity.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Cheri Mah, a leading expert in sleep and performance who has worked with some of the best athletes and organizations in the world, including Nike, Under Armour, the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, Olympic athletes, Formula 1, and the U.S. military. In this episode we discuss how coaches can build daily and weekly routines around sleep, how to plan travel to maximize sleep and performance, the biggest sleep disruptors athletes face, and how screen time before bed can impact sleep quality.

Learn more: https://www.drcherimah.com/

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Hansen Wong, Manager of G League and International Scouting for the Indiana Pacers. Wong has built a unique career with the Pacers, starting as a video intern and working his way through roles as Assistant Video Coordinator, Video Coordinator, and Director of Basketball Information and Technology before reaching his current position, while also serving as an Advanced Scout for the Nigerian National Team. In this episode we discuss his unique journey from student manager to the NBA and what his NBA interview process looked like, how scouts balance what their eyes tell them with data and analytics, which information matters most when evaluating a player, and whether watching a player live or on film provides the best understanding of their game.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Kwadzo Ahelegbe, Assistant Coach with the New York Knicks. Ahelegbe played at Northern Iowa before continuing his career professionally in Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, and Austria, eventually transitioning into coaching with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Windy City Bulls, and Knicks. In this episode we discuss how coaches can help injured players stay mentally strong and come back stronger, the impact Coach Ben Jacobson had on his development as a leader and point guard to help his preparation for the professional level, and how players can make an impact without the ball and become stars in their roles no matter the level.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Michael Huger, Associate Head Coach at Temple University. Huger played professionally in Finland, Holland, and Belgium before coaching at Longwood, George Mason, Miami, and Temple, along with serving as the head coach at Bowling Green. In this episode we discuss what European basketball can teach American player development, the lessons from Coach Larrañaga that stayed with him from player to coach, and the toughest parts of leading a program and what he would do differently the next time he’s a head coach.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Joe White, Assistant Coach at the University of South Dakota. White’s journey includes playing at Southern Oregon and professionally in Ecuador before transitioning into coaching, with stops at Tacoma CC, Lane CC, Idaho State, and South Dakota, along with head coaching experience at Lane CC. In this episode we discuss how head coaches can delegate while developing their assistants, the biggest mistakes young coaches make when trying to advance, and the habits and mindset that help coaches separate themselves.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Phil Beckner, a player development coach and performance consultant with Be Better. Be Different. Beckner has built an impressive career with coaching stops at Weber State, the Oklahoma City G League, Nebraska, and Boise State, while also working closely with some of the game’s top talent. His experience in player development has given him a unique perspective on building elite players and programs. In this episode we discuss how head coaches can build and develop a stronger staff, what working with Damian Lillard and other elite NBA talent taught him about player development, and what goes into creating an elite development plan before a player even steps on the floor.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Dexter Gooding, Assistant Coach at the University of Tampa. Gooding played at High Point before transitioning into coaching, with stops at South Florida, High Point, and now Tampa. His experience on both sides of player development has given him a unique perspective on helping athletes improve while continuing to grow as a young coach. In this episode we discuss the biggest challenge he faced transitioning from player to coach, what goes into developing a player before they even step on the court, and the key areas of growth and development that shaped him early in his coaching career.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Aaron Fearne, Assistant Coach at the College of Charleston. Coach Fearne has built a unique career across Australia and the United States, with experience as both a player and coach at the professional and collegiate levels. His journey includes stops with the Cairns Taipans, Charlotte, and Charleston, along with head coaching experience with the Cairns Marlins, Cairns Taipans, and Charlotte. In this episode we discuss how coaching young players early in his career shaped his approach to development, the biggest adjustments he had to make transitioning from Australia to the United States, and what he would do differently if he could go back and relive his experiences as a head coach.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Ryan Hamm, Assistant Coach at Cal State Fullerton. Hamm’s journey includes time as a player at Thomas More, followed by coaching stops at Thomas More, Lindenwood, Saint Leo University, and now Cal State Fullerton, along with experience as a head coach at NKY Elite. His time across different programs has given him a unique perspective on what it takes to build winning environments and continue growing as a coach. In this episode we discuss the common traits he’s seen in programs that consistently win, how coaches can measure their impact beyond their assigned duties, and the most important skills coaches should develop away from the court to continue advancing their careers.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Bobby Horodyski, Assistant Coach at Western Michigan University. Horodyski’s journey in basketball started as a manager before becoming a player at UCF, eventually working his way through coaching roles at Wyoming, Utah Valley, BYU, Queens, and now Western Michigan. His experience in different roles and programs has given him a unique perspective on what it takes to add value to a staff and continue growing in the profession. In this episode we discuss what a young DOBO should prioritize and master during their first year in this role, the little things great DOBOs do every day that make an entire staff better, and how a new coach can quickly find their place, build relationships, and add value when joining a new program.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Sean Dwyer, Assistant Coach with the Phoenix Suns. Dwyer has built an impressive coaching career with stops at Michigan State, Florida, Arkansas, Alabama, Northern Kentucky, Cincinnati, Loyola Chicago, and now with the Phoenix Suns. His experience across multiple college programs and the professional level has given him a unique perspective on what it takes to build sustained success. In this episode we discuss the one characteristic he’s seen consistently across successful programs, the biggest adjustment he faced moving from college coaching to the NBA, and how assistants can find their team's identity within a program and recruit players who truly fit that identity.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Paul Mulcahy, former Division I player and founder of Share the Game. Mulcahy built his playing career at Rutgers and Washington before transitioning into coaching as an assistant at Gill St. Bernard’s High School. His experience as a high-level point guard gives him a unique perspective on leadership, communication, and the impact coaches can have on their players. In this episode we discuss the coaches who brought the best out of him and the lessons he took from them, great advice for point guards to help them lead their team effectively and the power of choosing your words and communicating as a coach.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Pat Martinelli, Head Coach at Mount Aloysius. Coach Martinelli began his journey as a student assistant at Allegheny before working his way into assistant coaching roles at Allegheny and Chatham, while also gaining valuable experience as the head coach of Caveman AAU. In this episode we discuss the responsibilities he took on early that accelerated his growth, how his time coaching AAU helped prepare him for his first college head coaching opportunity, and what those first few months looked like after taking over a program as a newly appointed head coach.

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Mark Richmond, Assistant Coach at Youngstown State University. Coach Richmond began his journey at West Virginia as a student assistant, practice player, and manager before building an impressive coaching résumé with stops at Centenary College of Louisiana, the University of Charleston, East Tennessee State, Fordham, and now Youngstown State. He also gained valuable experience leading his own program as the head coach at Notre Dame College. In this episode we discuss the lasting lessons he learned from working under coaching legends in John Beilein and Bob Huggins, the responsibilities of a head coach that many assistants don't fully appreciate until they're in the role, and how his time as a head coach has made him a more effective assistant today.